Greedy user equipment data transport network selection

ABSTRACT

A wireless device determines whether a data session is performance sensitive, and in response to the data session being performance sensitive, selects a data transport node (DTN) and performs the data session using the selected DTN. Whether a data session is performance sensitive may be determined using information on a process associated with the data session, by monitoring the data session, or both. The DTN may be selected from a list of available DTNs according to which DTN will probably provide the highest performance for the data session, or according to which DTN or DTNs will probably provide adequate performance. Micro speed tests, historical performance information, or other criteria may be used to predict the performance of the available DTNs. When multiple DTNs satisfy the selection criteria, a “good neighbor” policy may be used to select the DTN.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/745,063, filed on Oct. 12, 2018, which is incorporated by referenceherein for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

To provide optimal area coverage, many wireless data networks arecomprised of data transport nodes (DTNs), each of which covers ageographic area or sub areas which typically neighbor and overlap oneanother. As a result, at any particular time, a user equipment terminal(UE) may have the opportunity to connect to many DTNs. Typically, the UEmay connect to only one of the available DTNs of any particular RadioAccess Technology (RAT) at a time.

Depending on random distributions of users and varying demand for dataservices, the total network throughput speed varies from DTN to DTN.Adjoining or overlapping networks may have dramatically differenttransport capabilities, like throughput, latency, number of otherconcurrent connections, constantly changing over time.

Typically, a user would prefer to have the best possible experience. Buttwo users in a same area accessing the same DTN provider (for example,the same cellular provider) even using the same application (e.g., astreaming-video application) may, when respectively connected toneighboring DTNs, experience dramatically different performance,resulting in the user connected to the less performant DTN having anegative experience compared to the user connected to the moreperformant DTN.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An objective of the disclosed embodiments is to provide a better userexperience by selecting which of a plurality of available DTNs to usebased on an estimate of which of the DTNs will provide the best or atleast adequate performance. The objective may be to provide a betteruser experience for use-cases that involve performance-sensitive datasessions, such as high-definition video streaming, high-performancegaming, and the like.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, a methodperformed by a wireless device comprises determining whether a datasession is performance sensitive, and in response to the data sessionbeing performance sensitive, selecting a data transport node (DTN) andperforming the data session using the selected DTN.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, a devicecomprises a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable mediumstoring computer programming instructions. The computer programminginstructions, when executed by the processor, cause the device toperform determining whether a data session is performance sensitive, andin response to the data session being performance sensitive, selecting adata transport node (DTN) and performing the data session using theselected DTN.

In an embodiment, determining whether the data session is performancesensitive includes identifying a process associated with the datasession, determining, using a repository of known processes, whether theprocess is likely to generate performance-sensitive data sessions, andin response to determining that the process is likely to generateperformance-sensitive data sessions, determining that the data sessionis performance sensitive.

In an embodiment, determining whether the data session is performancesensitive includes monitoring an amount of data communicated by the datasession, and in response to the amount of data communicated by the datasession in a predetermined time being greater than a predetermined firstthreshold, or to a time for the amount of data communicated by the datasession to reach a predetermined amount being less than a secondthreshold, determining that the data session is performance sensitive.

In an embodiment, selecting the DTN includes selecting the DTN accordingto a performance requirement of the data session.

In an embodiment, selecting the DTN includes selecting the DTN from alist of available DTNs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a communication network according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates components of a User Equipment (UE) according to anembodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a process for selecting and using aData Transport Node (DTN) according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a process for determining whether adata session is a performance-sensitive data session according to anembodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a process for selecting and using aDTN to optimize for either Uplink (UL) or Downlink (DL) performanceaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a state machine diagram illustrating a data sessionoptimization process according to an embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a process for generating a list ofavailable DTNs according to an embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating a process for selecting a DTN from alist according to an embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating a process for selecting a DTN from alist according to another embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating a process for selecting a DTN froma list according to another embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating a process for selecting a DTN froma list according to another embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating a process for selecting a DTN froma list according to another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates to networking, and in particular towireless networking. Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to howa device which can connect to a plurality of DTNs determines which ofthose DTNs to connect to.

According to various embodiments, a user device, such as a UserEquipment (UE) in a wireless network, selects which of a plurality ofDTNs to connect to based on a prediction or estimate of how well eachDTN of the plurality of DTNs will satisfy the network performancerequirements of a data session being or about to be performed by theuser device.

FIG. 1 illustrates a communication network 100 according to anembodiment. The network 100 includes a Wide-Area Network (WAN) 102 (forexample, the Internet), a plurality of cellular base stations 104A and104B, a WiFi Access Point (AP) 108, and a plurality of servers 114A and114B attached to the WAN 102. However, embodiments are not limitedthereto. The communication network 100 operates to allow communicationbetween a plurality of User Equipments (UEs) 120A, 120B, and 120C andthe servers 114A and 114B. Each of the cellular base stations 104A and104B and the WiFi AP 108 may operate as one or more Data Transport Nodes(DTNs).

The first base station 104A provides a plurality of cells for performingwireless data communications with UEs within its cells. In embodiments,the cells are organized into sectors, each sector covering a portion ofthe area around the first base station 104A. The first base station 104Ashown in FIG. 1 organizes its cells into three sectors each coveringapproximately 120 degrees, of which only one sector is shown.

The sector of the first base station 104A shown in FIG. 1 includes threecells: a first cell 106A-08 operating at 800 MHz, a second cell 106A-18operating at 1800 MHz, and third cell 106A-21 operating at 2100 MHz. AUE within a sector may connect to any of the cells in that sector;typically, a UE would only connect to one of the cells at any one time.Each of the cells 106A-08, 106A-18, and 106A-21 constitutes a DTN.

The second base station 104B is similar to the first base station 104A,and a sector of second base station 104B is shown in FIG. 1, the sectorproviding a fourth cell 106B-08 operating at 800 MHz, a fifth cell106B-18 operating at 1800 MHz, and sixth cell 106B-21 operating at 2100MHz, each of which constitutes a DTN.

The WiFi AP 108 provides a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) 110, andoperates to allow UEs within that WLAN 110 that have WiFi capability toperform wireless data communications. Although only one WLAN 110 isshown for WiFi AP 108, embodiments are not limited thereto, and the WiFiAP may provide a plurality of WLANs that may be at different frequencies(such as at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), each of which constitutes a DTN.

The first UE 120A is within the coverage of the cells of the first basestation 104A and second base station 104B and within the coverage of theWLAN 110 of the WiFi AP 108. As a result, the first UE 120A canwirelessly communicate using the first and fourth cells 106A-08 and108B-08 if the first UE 120A has 800 MHz cellular capability, using thesecond and fifth cells 106A-18 and 108B-18 if the UE 120A has 1800 Hzcellular capability, using the third and sixth cells 106A-21 and 108B-21if the first UE 120A has 2100 MHz cellular capability, and using theWLAN 110 if the first UE 120A has WiFi capability. Accordingly, thefirst UE 120A in the example shown in FIG. 1 may have up to eightavailable DTNs. Typically, the UE 120A may only communicate using onecell and, optionally, one WiFi AP at any time.

The second UE 120B is only within the coverage of the first, second, andthird cells 106A-08, 106A-18, and 106A-21, and therefore may onlycommunicate using those cells, depending on whether it has 800, 1800, or2100 MHz capability, respectively, and accordingly may have up to threeavailable DTNs. The third UE 120C is only within the coverage of thefourth, fifth, and sixth cells 106B-08, 106B-18, and 106B-21, andtherefore may only communicate using those cells, depending on whetherit has 800, 1800, or 2100 MHz capability, respectively, and accordinglymay have up to three available DTNs.

The first, second, and third UEs 120A, 120B, and 120C may each comprisea cell phone, a computer, a laptop computer, a tablet, a handhelddevice, a handset device, a smart television, a smart watch, or acombination thereof. In certain embodiments, a UE terminal is a devicecapable of wirelessly connecting with a data transport network

The communication performance that the first UE 120A obtains may dependon which DTN the first UE 120A uses to perform communications. Forexample, if the second UE 120B and other UEs in the sector of first basestation 104A are saturating the connection between first base station104A and the WAN 102, the first UE 120A may be able to obtain betterperformance by communicating using a DTN of the second base station 104Binstead of a DTN of the first base station 104A. In another example, ifthe second UE 120B and other UEs in the sector of first base station104A are causing congestion in the first cell 106A-08 of the first basestation 104A, the first UE 120A may be able to obtain better performanceby communicating using the second cell 106A-18 or the third cell 106A-21of the first base station 104A instead of the first cell 106A-08 of thefirst base station 104A.

The situations mentioned above may also apply with respect to the WiFiAP 108. For example, if the WiFi AP 108 is a WiFi access point in ahotel, whether the WLAN 110 provides better performance than the firstand second base stations 104A and 108B may depend on how much WiFitraffic the other residents of the hotel are generating.

As noted above, each cell provided by the base stations 104A and 104Band each WLAN provided by the WiFi AP 108 may be considered a DataTransport Node (DTN). In embodiments, a UE such as the first UE 120A,second UE 120B, or third UE 120C operates to select an available DTNthat is likely to provide the highest performance for a communicationoperation (for example, a data session) that the UE is conducting, andthereby provide a better experience to the user of that UE.

FIG. 2 illustrates components of a User Equipment (UE) 200 according toan embodiment. The UE 200 may be included in any or all of the UEs 120A,120B, and 120C of FIG. 1. The UE 200 includes an application processor202, a baseband processor 204, a Non-Volatile (NV) memory 206, a DynamicRandom Access Memory (DRAM) 208, Input/Output (I/O) interfaces 210, acellular RF transceiver 212, a cellular antenna 214, a WiFi RFtransceiver 216, and a WiFi antenna 218, all of which may communicatewith each other via a bus 260. The UE 200 is capable of wirelesslyconnecting to one or more data transport networks through DTNs such asthe cellular base stations 104A and 104B and the WiFi AP 108 of FIG. 1.

The application processor 202 executes applications, such as emailclients, web browser, video applications, and the like. The applicationprocessor 202 may also perform management activities for the UE 200. Theapplication processor 202 may utilize the NV memory 206 and the DRAM208, either or both of which may include a non-transitory computerreadable medium having software (e.g., computer programing instructions)and data stored therein.

The baseband processor 204 performs baseband signal processing and mayalso communicate information between the application processor 202 andthe RF transceivers 212 and 216. The baseband processor 210 may softwareand data stored in the NV memory 206 and the DRAM 208. In an embodiment,separate baseband processor may exist for each of cellular and WiFicommunications.

The Cellular RF transceiver 212 includes a cellular RF transmitter and acellular RF receiver. The Cellular RF transceiver 212 is configured totransmit first information received from the baseband processor 204 to acellular DTN through the cellular antenna 214, and provide secondinformation received through the cellular antenna 214 from the cellularDTN to the baseband processor 204.

The WiFi RF transceiver 216 includes a WiFi RF transmitter and a WiFi RFreceiver. The WiFi RF transceiver 216 is configured to transmit thirdinformation received from the baseband processor 204 to a WiFi DTNthrough the WiFi antenna 218, and provide fourth information receivedthrough the WiFi antenna 218 from the WiFi DTN to the baseband processor204.

Input interfaces of the I/O interfaces 210 receive information from auser, and output interfaces of the /O interfaces 210 output informationto the user. The input interfaces may include one or more of a keyboard,keypad, mouse, touchscreen, microphone, and the like. The outputinterfaces may include one or more of a display device, touch screen,speaker, and the like. I/O interfaces 210 may also include interfaces toexternal devices.

As described herein, many functions of the UE 200 may be implemented ineither hardware or software. Which functions are implemented in softwareand which functions are implemented in hardware will vary according toconstraints imposed on a design. The constraints may include one or moreof design cost, manufacturing cost, time to market, power consumption,available semiconductor technology, and so on.

As described herein, a wide variety of electronic devices, circuits,firmware, software, and combinations thereof may be used to implementthe functions of the components of the UE 200. Furthermore, the UE 200may include other components, such as storage interfaces, clockgenerator circuits, power supply circuits, and the like, which have beenomitted in the interest of brevity.

The UE 200 may seek to access a particular host (e.g., a video streaminghost such as Youtube.com) and there may be more than one DTNs availablethrough which it could connect to that host. When the UE 200 accessesthe host (either by using an application or through a web browser) adata session is created. Embodiments relate to determining whether saiddata session corresponds to a performance-sensitive data session (suchas a data session including an elephant flow, as described below), andto providing better performance to performance-sensitive data sessionsby selecting a DTN likely to provide higher performance for the datasession from among a plurality of DTNs currently available to the UE200.

FIG. 3 illustrates a process 300 for selecting and using a DataTransport Node according to an embodiment. The process 300 may beperformed by a UE such as the UE 120A of FIG. 1.

At S302, the process 300 determines whether a data session to beperformed is a performance-sensitive data session; that is, whetherinsufficient downlink and/or uplink performance for the data sessionmight lead to a poor user experience. Performance-sensitive datasessions may include, for example, video streaming data sessions(especially high-resolution video streaming), where poor downlinkperformance may lead to artifacts in the video or stuttering of thevideo, and gaming data sessions, where poor uplink or downlinkperformance may place a player of the game at a disadvantage againstother players.

The process 300 may determine whether the data session is performancesensitive by consulting a database, by monitoring the data session, orboth. The process 300 may use, for example, the process 402 describedwith respect to FIG. 4 to make this determination.

At S304, when the data session is performance-sensitive, the process 300proceeds to S306; otherwise, the process 300 proceeds to S308.

At S306, the process 300 selects a Data Transport Node (DTN) likely toprovide the best performance for the data session, and then uses theselected DTN to perform the data session. The process 300 may select theDTN using, for example, the process 506 described with respect to FIG.5. When the data session is terminated, the process 300 ends.

At S308, the process 300 performs the data session using whichever DTNthe UE was connected to at the start of the process 300. If the UE wasnot connected to a DTN at the start of the process 300, the process 300may choose one using any of the process for selecting a DTN describedherein, or using a process known in the art.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, at S308 the process 300 ends when thedata session is terminated, but embodiments are not limited thereto. Inan embodiment, at S308, after the process 300 has performed the datasession for a predetermined period of time, the process 300 proceeds toS302 and re-determines whether the data session isperformance-sensitive.

FIG. 4 illustrates a process 402 for determining whether a data sessionis a performance-sensitive data session according to an embodiment. Theprocess 402 may be used in S302 of the process 300 of FIG. 3.

At S404, the process 402 identifies a process associated with the datasession. Identifying the process associated with the data session mayinclude determining a unique identifier associated with an applicationthat is performing the data session. For example, an application forstreaming videos may have a first unique identifier, an application forperforming Voice over IP (VOIP) may have a second unique identifier, avideo chat application may have a third unique identifier, and so on.The unique identifier may be determined by, for example, identifying aprocess performing the data session, identifying the application thatthe process belongs to, and obtaining from an operating system a uniqueidentifier associated with that application.

At S406, the process 402 checks, using the unique identifier, arepository of known processes to determine whether the process is likelyto generate data sessions that are performance-sensitive. The repositoryof known processes may have been created using analytical techniques(e.g., machine learning) to measure the likelihood that an applicationhas relatively higher data requirements and/or a relatively longerduration than other data sessions traversing a network. For example, avideo streaming application is likely to have higher data requirementsthan a typical process. On the other hand, SMS, Voice-over-IP, andInternet-of-Things applications, for example, are less likely to havehigher-than-typical data requirements.

If the unique identifier is associated in the repository of knownprocesses with a likelihood of needing data throughput greater than afirst threshold or a likelihood of having a duration longer than asecond threshold, the process is determined to generateperformance-sensitive data sessions.

The repository of known processes may also indicate whether a process islikely to generate data sessions having higher than usual performancerequirements in uplink communications, in downlink communications, orboth.

A data session having higher than usual performance requirements may beconsidered an “elephant flow.” A data session not having higher thanusual performance requirements may be considered a “standard flow.”

At S408, when the repository of known processes indicates that theprocess is likely to generate elephant flows, the process 402 proceedsto S416; otherwise, the process 402 proceeds to S410.

At S410, the process 402 initially designates the data sessionassociated with the process as non-performance-sensitive, that is, as astandard flow.

At S412, the process 402 monitors the data being communicated in thedata session associated with the process as the data session is beingperformed. Either uplink, downlink, or both uplink and downlink data maybe monitored. In an embodiment, the amount of data being communicated inthe data session may be monitored over a predetermined period of time.In another embodiment, a time during which a predetermined amount ofdata is communicated by the data session may be monitored.

In an embodiment, information from monitoring one or more data sessionsassociated with a process that is not in the repository of knownprocesses is accumulated until a predetermined number of data sessionsfor that process have been monitored. Once the predetermined number ofdata sessions associated with the process have been monitored, adetermination of whether the process is likely to be associated withperformance-sensitive data sessions is made using the information fromthe monitoring and the determination is stored in association with theprocess in the repository of known processes.

At S414, the process 402 determines whether the amount of datacommunicated by the data session, for example, an amount of datacommunicated during the predetermined period of time, exceeds athreshold. The threshold can be static or dynamic. If the amount of dataexceeds the predetermined threshold, at S414 the process 402 proceeds toS416; otherwise the process 402 proceeds to S412.

At S416, the process 402 designates the data session associated with theprocess as performance-sensitive, that is, as an elephant flow. In anembodiment, the process 402 may designate the data session as uplinkperformance sensitive, downlink performance sensitive, or both,according to either the information in the repository of known processesconsulted in S406 or the amount of uplink and/or downlink data monitoredin S412. The process 402 then exits.

Once a data session is designated performance-sensitive (e.g.,designated an elephant flow) the data session retains that designationuntil it is explicitly terminated or until it is terminated by an idletimeout. For example, in an embodiment, any data session that is idlefor 20 seconds is considered terminated. Data packets associated with asame process or targeting a same destination as a terminated datasession are considered part of a new data session.

FIG. 5 illustrates a process 506 for selecting and using a DTN tooptimize for either Uplink (UL) or Downlink (DL) performance accordingto an embodiment. The process 506 may be used in S306 of the process 300of FIG. 3.

At S510, the process 506 determines whether a performance-sensitive datasession (such as an elephant flow) has been designated as UL performancesensitive and/or UL performance sensitive. When the data session hasbeen designated as UL performance sensitive and not as DL performancesensitive, at S510 the process 506 proceeds to S512U. When the datasession has been designated as DL performance sensitive and not as ULperformance sensitive, at S510 the process 506 proceeds to S512D. Whenthe data session has been designated as both DL and UL performancesensitive, at S510 the process 506 proceeds to S512B.

In an embodiment without S512B, when the data session has beendesignated as both UL and DL performance sensitive, the process 506 mayuse a predetermined tie-breaking rule to determine which of S512U andS512D to proceed to.

In an embodiment, when the data session has not been designated as UL orDL performance sensitive, the process 506 may use a predetermineddefault rule to determine which of S512U, S512D, and S512B (if present)to proceed to.

At S512U, the process 506 performs the data session in an UL-optimizedmanner, such as by performing the process 612 of FIG. 6 for UL dataflow. The process 506 then ends.

At S512D, the process 506 performs the data session in an DL-optimizedmanner, such as by performing the process 612 of FIG. 6 for DL dataflow. The process 506 then ends.

At S512B, the process 506 may perform the data session optimized for anaggregate performance that combines both UL and DL performance. Forexample, in an embodiment, the data session may have an UL performancetarget and a DL performance target, and the data session may beoptimized to meet both performance targets. In another embodiment, thedata session may have weights for each of UL and DL performance, and thedata session may be optimized for a sum of the UL and DL performanceeach scaled by the respective weight.

FIG. 6 is a state machine diagram illustrating a process 612 for datasession optimization of a data session that is sensitive to ULperformance, DL performance, or both, according to an embodiment. Theprocess 612 may be used in any or all of S512U (by optimizing for ULdata flow), S512D (by optimizing for DL data flow), and S512B (byoptimizing for an UL+DL aggregate data flow) of the process 506 of FIG.5, or may be used to optimize for an aggregate performance that combinesboth UL and DL performance.

At S620, the process 612 generates a list of available Data TransportNodes (DTNs). The list may include DTNs on different frequencies, usingdifferent RATs, located at different base stations or access points, andso on. The process 612 then transitions to S622.

At S622, the process 612 selects a DTN from the list of available DTNsand, if the selected DTN is not the DTN the device performing theprocess 612 is currently connected to, connects to the selected DTN inorder to perform the data session. In an embodiment, the process 612 mayselect an available DTN that has the highest probability of providingthe highest DL (for a data session sensitive to DL performance), UL (fora data session sensitive to DL performance), or combined performance,(for a data session sensitive to both) according to which the datasession is sensitive to. In another embodiment, the process 612 mayselect an available DTN that will provide adequate performance.

A plurality of DTNs may satisfy the selection criteria used at S622. Forexample, there may be a tie for which DTN provides the highest pertinentperformance, or there may be a plurality of DTNs that provide adequateperformance. In embodiments, when a plurality of DTNs satisfy theselection criteria, the process S612 uses a “good neighbor” policy toselect a DTN from that plurality of DTNs. When selecting a DTN out ofthe plurality of DTNs that satisfy the selection criteria, the “goodneighbor” policy seeks to minimize the negative impact that theselection may have on other users of the wireless network. For example,because most users of radio networks are at the edges of cell coverageradius, when two DTNs that meet the selection criteria operate indifferent frequency bands, and the lower of the frequency bands providesgreater geographic coverage, the process S612 may select the DTN havingthe higher frequency band in order to not reduce the utility of the DTNhaving the lower frequency band to more distant users who may only beable to use the DTN having the lower frequency band.

At S622, once a DTN is selected the process 612 then transitions toS624.

At S624, the process 612 starts a session timer and then transitions toS626.

The process 612 remains in S626, incrementing the session timer, as longas the session timer has a value less than or equal to a predeterminedvalue N and the data session being optimized is not terminated. When thedata session is terminated, the process 612 transitions to S628. Whenthe session timer has a value greater than the predetermined value N andthe data session is still active, the process 612 transitions to S620 tore-evaluate whether the current DTN is likely to be the best DTN for thedata session.

At S628, the process 602 ends the session timer and then exits.

FIG. 7 illustrates a process 720 for generating an available DTN listaccording to an embodiment. The process 720 may be used in S620 of theprocess 612 of FIG. 6.

At S722, the process 720 receives a list of available DTNs that thedevice performing the process 720 can attach to. The list of availableDTNs may have been generated by the device probing for DTNs that thedevice can connect to among the data transport networks available to thedevice. In an embodiment, the list of available DTNs received by theprocess 720 is generated by means known in the art.

At S724, the process 720 may refine the list of available DTNs. The listof DTNs may be refined by, for example, limiting the list to DTNsaccording to characteristic of the DTN such as a Channel QualityIndication (CQI), a Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio (SIRN), aReceived Signal Strength Indication (RSSI), a Reference Signal ReceivedPower (RSRP), a Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ), a channelsize, a throughput, a Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS), a Round TripTime (RTT) or other latency, a block failure to success ratio, a channelsize, or the like. In embodiments, the process 720 may refine the listto include only DTNs having the characteristic better that apredetermined threshold or in a predetermined upper percentile of thereceived list of available DTNs. For example, in an embodiment theprocess 720 may refine the received list of available DTNs to onlyinclude DTNs with RTTs of less than 60 milliseconds, a throughput of 5megabits per second, or both.

The received list of available DTNs may also be refined according topreferred Radio Access Technologies (RATs), preferred operators, whetherthe DTNs support carrier aggregation, a cell ID mode, a preferred bandor subchannel, or the like.

At S726, the process 720 may randomize the refined list of availableDTNs by reordering the list according to the output of a random numbergenerator (RNG) or pseudo-random number generator (PRNG). By randomizingthe list, the process 720 makes it more likely that different devicesusing the same or similar embodiment will select different DTNs toperform similar data sessions.

FIG. 8 illustrates a process 822 for selecting a DTN from a list ofavailable DTNs using passive mode sampling according to an embodiment.Portions of the process 822 (e.g., S806) may be used in S622 of theprocess 612 of FIG. 6. Other portions of the process 822 (e.g. S804) maybe performed before S622 of the process 612 of FIG. 6, such as, forexample, when no performance-sensitive data sessions are beingperformed.

At S804, while the device perform the process 822 is not performing adata transfer, the process 822 performs micro-speed tests of one or moreof DTNs from the list of available DTNs. A micro speed test may or maynot use a content server in the data path of the test. A target of themicro speed test may be either directly in the mobile network orexternal to the mobile network (e.g. Internet). A micro speed test mayconsist of but is not limited to measuring the RTT or half-RTT latencyof a DTN by sending and/or receiving empty data packets, or measuring athroughput capability of a DTN by sending data packets. In anembodiment, the device performing the process 822 disconnects from apreviously connected-to DTN and connects to the DTN to be tested inorder to perform the micro speed test.

In an embodiments, the information collected from the micro speed testsfurther includes information collected by other devices performing microspeed tests which send the information they collect from theirrespective micro speed tests to the device performing the process 822.

In an embodiment, DTN transport capabilities are assessed by measuringthe delivery performance of packets sent over the visible (to the UE)DTNs to determine the transport capabilities (e.g., maximum throughput,lowest latency, and the like) of each DTN. The data packets travelbetween the UE terminal and a content server (e.g., a streaming videoserver or game server). The higher amount of data sent/received, themore accurate the throughput prediction can be. To save resources suchas processing speed or overall data consumption a limited number ofpackets could be sent since it may not be necessary to have a highaccuracy assessment of each DTN's performance. Instead, embodiments mayseek to determine whether a DTN is likely to be more performant than itsadjoining neighbors.

For example, in a testing interval of 0.25 second, a first DTN may beestimated to have a throughput of 50 kbps, and a second DTN may beestimated to have a throughput of 100 kbps. If each DTN was tested overseveral seconds, their overall throughputs might be much higher than theresults of the 0.25 second calculations indicated. However, there is ahigh probability that the true speed of the second DTN having the 100kbps estimated throughput is greater than the true throughput of thefirst DTN having the 50 kbps estimated throughput. Therefore the UEwould probably experience the best performance if it connects to thesecond (100 Kbps) DTN.

At S806, the process 822 selects, using the information collected fromthe micro speed tests, a DTN from the list of available DTNs. In anembodiment, the process 822 selects the first DTN that, as determinedusing the information collected from the micro speed tests, meets atarget performance threshold (i.e., should provide adequateperformance), which target threshold may be predetermined or may beassociated with a data session for which the DTN is being selected. Inan embodiment, the process 822 selects the cell with, as determinedusing the information collected from the micro speed tests, the highestDL, UL, or aggregated UL/DL measured performance, according to whetherthe data session for which the DTN is being chosen is sensitive to DLperformance, UL performance, or both. Performance may be measured usinglatency, UL throughput, DL throughput, and the like, or combinationsthereof. The process 822 then exits.

FIG. 9 illustrates a process 922 for selecting a DTN from a list ofavailable DTNs according to an embodiment. The process 922 may be usedin S622 of the process 612 of FIG. 6. One or more portions of theprocess 922 may be performed while the data session being optimized isin progress.

At S902, the process 922 determines whether the DTN that the device iscurrently using to perform the data session being optimized is providingadequate performance. The process 922 may do this by measuringstatistics of the data session, such as latency or throughput. In anembodiment, determining whether the currently-in-use DTN is providingadequate performance may be performed by monitoring an indicator fromthe process performing the data session being optimized, such as a stallindicator from a video streaming app.

When the currently-in-use DTN is providing adequate performance, at S902the process 922 proceeds to S908; otherwise, the process 922 proceeds toS904.

At S904, the process 922 performs micro speed tests of one or more DTNs(other than the currently-in-use DTN) in the list of available DTNs, asdescribed with respect to S804 of FIG. 8, above.

In an embodiment, the process 922 may perform the micro speed test ofthe available DTNs using respective portions of the data session andmeasure the performance achieved in performing that portion. Forexample, the process 922 may perform a first 0.25 seconds of a videodata session on a first DTN to assess the first DTN's performance,perform a second 0.25 seconds of the video data session on a second DTNto assess the second DTN's performance, and so on, and thus seek tocontinue to provide the data session as a new DTN for performing it issought.

At S906, the process 922 selects, using the information collected fromthe micro speed tests, a DTN from the list of available DTNs, asdescribed with respect to S806 of FIG. 8. The process 922 then exits.

In embodiments, other techniques for selecting a new DTN may be usedinstead of those described with respect to S904 and S906. For example,in an embodiment, S904 and S906 might be replaced by S1004 and S1006 ofFIG. 10 (i.e., a calculation using DTN metrics and properties may beused to select a DTN), by S1104 and S1106 of FIG. 11 (i.e., historicalperformance information may be used to select a DTN, by S1204 and S1206of FIG. 12 (i.e., a DTN may be selected randomly), and so on.

At S908, the process 922 selects the currently-in-use DTN as theselected DTN. The process 922 then exits.

FIG. 10 illustrates a process 1022 for selecting a DTN from a list ofavailable DTNs according to an embodiment. The process 1022 does not usetesting, instead using on or more metrics associated with the DTNs tomake a “best guess” selection from among the available DTNs. The process1022 may be used in S622 of the process 612 of FIG. 6.

At S1004, the process 1022 performs respective calculations for the DTNsin the list of available DTNs to determine which DTN is most likely toprovide the desired performance. The respective calculations use one ora combination of more than one of respective properties of the DTNs,such as a Channel Quality Indication (CQI), a Signal to Interferenceplus Noise Ratio (SIRN), a Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI), aReference Signal Received Power (RSRP), a Reference Signal ReceivedQuality (RSRQ), a channel size, a throughput, a Modulation and CodingScheme (MCS), a Round Trip Time (RTT) or other latency, a block failureto success ratio, a channel size, a Radio Access Technologies (RATs),whether the DTN is operated by a preferred operator, whether the DTNssupport carrier aggregation, or the like.

In an embodiment, a DTN having a higher calculation result is morelikely to provide the desired performance. The desired performance canbe UL performance, DL performance, or an aggregate of both, according tothe data session being optimized. The desired performance can be, forexample, low latency, high throughput, or a combination thereof.

At S1006, the process 1022 selects the DTN that has the best calculationresult (e.g., the highest result) from the list of available DTNs as theselected DTN. The process 1022 then exits.

FIG. 11 illustrates a process 1122 for selecting, using historicalperformance information, a DTN from a list of available DTNs accordingto an embodiment. The process 1122 may be used in S622 of the process612 of FIG. 6.

At S1102, the process 1122 may optionally receive, from another device,respective historical performance information for DTNs in the list ofavailable DTNs. The other device may be a network element of the networkthe device performing the process 1122 is part of, wherein the networkelement is configured to store and distribute historical performanceinformation regarding DTNs. The historical performance informationstored and distributed by the network element may be generated by thenetwork element or received by the network element from one or moreother devices.

At S1104, the process 1122 determines, for each DTN in the list ofavailable DTNs, the historical performance of that DTN. The process 1122uses historical performance information for DTNs accumulated by thedevice performing the process 1122 and any historical performanceinformation for DTNs received at S1102 to determine the respectivehistorical performance of the DTNs in the list of available DTNs. Thehistorical performance information may include results of priormicro-speed tests, results of monitoring of prior user-generatedsessions, and the like. In an embodiment, the process 1122 usesrespective identifiers of the DTNs in the list of available DTNs to lookfor respective information on the DTNs in the available historicalperformance information.

The historical performance information may include performance metricsfor DTNs previously used by the device. The historical performanceinformation may include specific performance information for often-usedwebsites (e.g., a popular video streaming website) or specificperformance information for an often-used website for each of aplurality of often-used DTNs. The historical performance information fora website or DTN or combination thereof may include separate entries foreach day of the week and/or for each of a plurality of portions of theday. The historical performance information may include separate UL andDL performance information.

In an embodiment, a device performing the process 1122 accumulateshistorical performance data over time. In an embodiment, the devicekeeps track of the age of historical performance information and usesthe age of the information to determine when to take new measurements.

At S1106, the process 1122 selects the DTN having the highest historicalperformance from among the list of available DTNs. When the data sessionbeing optimized is primarily sensitive to DL performance, the DTN withthe best historical DL performance is selected. When the data sessionbeing optimized is primarily sensitive to UL performance, the DTN withthe best historical UL performance is selected. When the data sessionbeing optimized is sensitive to both UL and DL performance, and measureof combined UL and DL performance is used to select the DTN. Performancemay be measured by one or more of latency, throughput, total datacapacity, and so on. The process 1122 then exits.

FIG. 12 illustrates a process 1222 for randomly selecting a DTN from alist of available DTNs according to an embodiment. The process 1222 maybe used in S622 of the process 612 of FIG. 6.

At S1204, the process 1222 randomly (or pseudo-randomly) reorders (e.g.,shuffles) the list of available DTNs. At S1206, the process 1222 selectsthe first DTN of the reordered list of available DTNs as the selectedDTN. The process 1222 then exits.

In another embodiments, the process 1222 uses a random or pseudo-randomnumber generator to generate an integer N in the range of 1 to thelength of the list of available DTNs, and then selects the Nth elementof the list of available DTNs as the selected DTN. The process 1222 thenexits.

Embodiments include user devices, and in particular wireless userdevices such a s User Equipment (UE), that attempt to optimize theperformance of performance-sensitive data sessions by selecting whichDTN to connect to and use according to the predicted ability of eachavailable DTN to provide the performance required by aperformance-sensitive data session. The selected DTN may not be theleast congested, may not have the highest signal strength or RSRP, andgenerally may not be the DTN that the network operator would prefer theuser device use. Instead of a user device probing for availabletransport networks depending on, for example, best signal strength(which ignores the actual available capacity of the DTN), the system andmethod described proposes for a user device to directly probe theavailable transport networks and decide which to use based on measuredperformance capabilities, and in particular based on measuredperformance capabilities that are pertinent to the data session forwhich optimal network performance is sought.

Embodiments eschew load balancing. In embodiments, a user device probesthe available transport networks and decides which to use based onperformance measurements (as opposed to UEs connecting to LTE networksbased on their probing for optimal signal strength.) This system andmethod is greedy because it prioritizes maximum possible performance foran individual user device instead of considering the sharing ofresources with other users.

Embodiments have periodic checks during extended sessions to allow theuser device to periodically check whether the originally determined“best DTN” is still providing adequate or optimal performance and toallow the user device to switch DTNs if needed. The process can be usedfor both primarily uplink and downlink connections to find the optimalchannel.

Embodiments are not limited to a single data transport technology, therecould be a mix of networks including but not limited to radio accesstechnologies and Wi-Fi.

Although embodiments have been described with respect to specificexamples, embodiments are not limited by these examples. For example,persons of skill in the art will recognize that greedily determiningwhich DTN to use to maximize the user device's own performance of a datasession may be performed according to various other algorithms andprocesses without departing from the scope or spirit of the presentdisclosure.

Once the user device establishes a connection with a particular DTN asession timer is started to monitor the length of continuous sessions.For example, video streaming sessions are typically longer thandownloading small file attachments. Due to random distributions of usersand varying demand for data services, it is possible for a different DTNto become a more optimal connection than the originally calculated“best” DTN. A counter increases each time a session is found to be notterminated. If the counter becomes greater than a threshold “n”, returnto “Check for available DTN” and re-probe for the fastest available DTN.This can allow the user device to periodically check whether theoriginally calculated best DTN is still performing optimally and allowsthe user device to switch DTNs if needed.

While several embodiments of the present disclosure have beenillustrated and described herein, many changes can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, itcan be appreciated that the disclosure may be used in wireless networks,wired networks, fiber networks and coaxial networks alone, or incombination. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited byany disclosed embodiment.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method performed by a wireless device, themethod comprising: determining whether a data session is performancesensitive; and in response to the data session being performancesensitive: selecting a data transport node (DTN), and performing thedata session using the selected DTN, wherein determining whether thedata session is performance sensitive includes: monitoring an amount ofdata communicated by the data session; and in response to the amount ofdata communicated by the data session in a predetermined time beinggreater than a predetermined first threshold, or to a time for theamount of data communicated by the data session to reach a predeterminedamount being less than a second threshold, determining that the datasession is performance sensitive.
 2. A method performed by a wirelessdevice, the method comprising: determining whether a data session isperformance sensitive; and in response to the data session beingperformance sensitive: selecting a data transport node (DTN), andperforming the data session using the selected DTN, wherein determiningwhether the data session is performance sensitive includes: identifyinga process associated with the data session; determining, using arepository of known processes, whether the process is likely to generateperformance-sensitive data sessions; and in response to determining,using the repository of known processes, that the process is likely togenerate performance-sensitive data sessions, determining that the datasession is performance sensitive.
 3. The method of claim 1, whereinselecting the DTN includes selecting the DTN according to a performancerequirement of the data session.
 4. The method of claim 3, whereinselecting the DTN according to a performance requirement of the datasession includes: selecting the DTN according to information regarding adownlink (DL) performance of the DTN when the performance requirement ofthe data session includes a DL performance requirement; or selecting theDTN according to information regarding an uplink (UL) performance of theDTN when the performance requirement of the data session includes a ULperformance requirement.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein selecting theDTN according to a performance requirement of the data session includesselecting the DTN according to information regarding a latencyperformance of the DTN when the performance requirement of the datasession includes a latency requirement, selecting the DTN according toinformation regarding a throughput performance of the DTN when theperformance requirement of the data session includes a throughputrequirement, or both.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein performing thedata session using the selected DTN includes: performing the datasession using the selected DTN for a predetermined period of time; andin response to the predetermined period of time elapsing, selecting anew DTN and performing the data session using the selected new DTN. 7.The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the DTN includes selecting theDTN from a list of available DTNs.
 8. The method of claim 7, whereinselecting the DTN from the list of available DTNs includes selecting theDTN from the list using a random number generator or a pseudo-randomnumber generator.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein selecting the DTNfrom the list of available DTNs includes selecting the DTN according tothe respective results of micro speed tests performed on the list ofavailable DTNs.
 10. The method of claim 7, wherein selecting the DTNfrom the list of available DTNs includes selecting the DTN according torespective calculations for the list of available DTNs, wherein thecalculations are based on respective metrics, respective properties, orboth of the available DTNs.
 11. The method of claim 7, wherein selectingthe DTN from the list of available DTNs includes selecting the DTNaccording to historical performance information regarding the list ofavailable DTNs.
 12. The method of claim 7, wherein selecting the DTNfrom the list of available DTNs includes: selecting the DTN according toa selection criteria; and when a plurality of DTNs in the list ofavailable DTNs meet the selection criteria, selecting the DTN from theplurality of DTNs according to a policy that minimizes the negativeimpact that the selection could have on other users of the wirelessnetwork.
 13. A device, comprising: a processor; and a non-transitorycomputer-readable medium storing computer programming instructions,which, when executed by the processor, cause the device to perform:determining whether a data session is performance sensitive; and inresponse to the data session being performance sensitive: selecting adata transport node (DTN), and performing the data session using theselected DTN, wherein determining whether the data session isperformance sensitive includes: identifying a process associated withthe data session; when a repository of known processes includes anindication of whether the process is likely to generateperformance-sensitive data sessions: determining, using the repositoryof known processes, whether the process is likely to generateperformance-sensitive data sessions, and in response to determining,using the repository of known processes, that the process is likely togenerate performance-sensitive data sessions, determining that the datasession is performance sensitive; and when the repository of knownprocesses does not include an indication of whether the process islikely to generate performance-sensitive data sessions: monitoring anamount of data communicated by the data session, and in response to theamount of data communicated by the data session in a predetermined timebeing greater than a predetermined first threshold, or to a time for theamount of data communicated by the data session to reach a predeterminedamount being less than a second threshold, determining that the datasession is performance sensitive.
 14. The device of claim 13, whereinselecting the DTN includes selecting the DTN according to a performancerequirement of the data session.
 15. The device of claim 14, whereinselecting the DTN according to a performance requirement of the datasession includes: selecting the DTN according to information regarding adownlink (DL) performance of the DTN when the performance requirement ofthe data session includes a DL performance requirement; or selecting theDTN according to information regarding an uplink (UL) performance of theDTN when the performance requirement of the data session includes a ULperformance requirement.
 16. The device of claim 13, wherein performingthe data session using the selected DTN includes: performing the datasession using the selected DTN for a predetermined period of time; andin response to the predetermined period of time elapsing, selecting anew DTN and performing the data session using the selected new DTN. 17.The device of claim 13, wherein selecting the DTN includes selecting theDTN from a list of available DTNs.
 18. The device of claim 17, whereinselecting the DTN from the list of available DTNs includes selecting theDTN according to the respective results of micro speed tests performedon the list of available DTNs.
 19. The device of claim 17, whereinselecting the DTN from the list of available DTNs includes selecting theDTN according to respective calculations for the list of available DTNs,wherein the calculations are based on respective metrics, respectiveproperties, or both of the available DTNs.
 20. The device of claim 17,wherein selecting the DTN from the list of available DTNs includesselecting the DTN according to historical performance informationregarding the list of available DTNs.
 21. The device of claim 17,wherein selecting the DTN from the list of available DTNs includes:selecting the DTN according to a selection criteria; and when aplurality of DTNs in the list of available DTNs meet the selectioncriteria, selecting the DTN from the plurality of DTNs according to apolicy that minimizes the negative impact that the selection could haveon other users of the wireless network.